This is the story of Utkarsh Khanna, a finance student who had all the right qualifications. He completed ACCA and cleared CFA Level I, which sounds like a solid profile. But even with all that, getting a job in core finance wasn’t easy.

He soon realised that just knowing theory from books wasn’t enough. Companies were looking for people who could actually apply that knowledge in real work. That’s when he decided to take up a Financial Modeling course to build the practical skills he was missing.

That one decision completely changed his path. Today, Utkarsh is placed at Coinmen Consultants as a Financial Analyst, and here’s how he turned things around—in his own words:

Below is a transcript of his interview with us:

1. Congrats on your placement! Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got interested in finance?

Thanks! I’ve always liked numbers and how they help businesses make decisions. I started with ACCA, which gave me a good base in accounting and finance. Then I cleared CFA Level I, which made me more curious about things like company valuation and investments.

To me, finance is like solving puzzles using numbers and data to figure out what’s going on and help people make smart choices. That’s why I wanted to learn more and get better at it.

2. You’re already an ACCA Affiliate and have cleared CFA Level I. What made you choose to do a financial modeling course after that?

So even after doing ACCA and clearing CFA Level I, I found a gap in my knowledge. It wasn’t about understanding the concepts, but more about how to apply that bookish stuff in actual situations.

I knew the concepts, but when I looked at job descriptions or talked to people already working in finance, I realised that most companies were expecting more than just theory.

They wanted people who could actually build financial models, work on Excel, and handle real business scenarios. I didn’t feel confident doing those things yet.

That’s when I started looking into financial modeling courses. I read about how these programs help you build models from scratch, test assumptions and present your analysis in a way that makes sense to companies. It sounded exactly like what I needed to take my learning to the next level.

So I decided to go for it to actually become job-ready and improve my chances of getting into core finance roles.

3. What challenges were you facing while trying to get placed before joining the financial modeling course?

One of the biggest struggles I had was during interviews. I was often asked things like how I would value a company or build a forecast or a merger model. I knew the theory from ACCA and CFA, but I didn’t really know how to apply it in actual tasks.

I had those credentials but companies wanted more than that. They wanted proof that I could actually do the work. And honestly, I didn’t have anything to show. That was the point where I realised I needed to work on my practical side.

I picked a financial modeling course and once I joined my classes, everything started to change. Working on real projects, learning through proper company case studies, and getting detailed feedback on where we were going wrong helped me a lot in focusing on my weak areas. Slowly, I started building a portfolio of models and analysis that I could confidently talk about in interviews. Now I have that practical knowledge to show recruiters that I could actually do the job.

4. How did the course help you build skills and confidence for your interviews?

Honestly, the course was very helpful for me. From the first day, we were building actual financial models, working on different sectors, and even practicing how to explain our work in mock interviews. It wasn’t just theory anymore.

The mentors really pushed us to think like analysts. They didn’t want us to just copy steps. They helped us understand why each step matters and how to connect everything properly.

So when I started giving interviews, I felt much more confident. I was able to explain my thought process clearly, talk about the models I built and even defend the assumptions I had used. In one interview, they pointed out a mistake and I was able to fix it on the spot. That never would’ve happened before.

These skills really helped me clear my interview and I got placed at Coinmen Consultants as a Financial Analyst. That was a really proud moment for me.

5. What advice would you give to other finance students who are struggling to get placed?

If you’re struggling, I’d just say don’t give up too soon. Keep going and focus on building skills that actually make you stand out. Degrees and certifications like ACCA or CFA are important, but companies also want to see if you can use what you’ve learned to solve real problems.

For me, learning financial modeling made a big difference because it gave me something practical to show. So try to pick up skills that help you do the actual job.

Also, don’t just apply randomly. Tailor your resume and really try to explain your story like how your skills can help the company. Practice that part.

And finally, just trust the process. Even if you get a few rejections, keep learning and improving. Every “no” brings you one step closer to the “yes” that matters. Stay curious, keep learning and believe in your journey. It’ll work out.

Utkarsh’s story shows that while degrees can get you noticed, it’s your skills that actually help you get the job. When you mix what you know with what you can do, success becomes a lot more possible.

You can connect with him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/utkarsh157/